Gasparilla Recap Part 2: Amber Challenge

This year marks my fourth year running the Gasparilla Distance Classic! The first year I ran the 5K. Second and third years I ran the Lime Challenge – 15K on Saturday and 8K on Sunday.

So this year I thought I would step I would step it up and do the Amber Challenge – 15k and 5k on Saturday and half marathon on Sunday. 25.5 miles total for the weekend!

I had been fighting a cold all week and began to feel back to normal on Thursday and Friday but knew I wasn’t 100%. So I went into the weekend not looking to push or PR – completion was the goal!

But I hit one PR on Saturday during the 15K! This time last year I set a new PR of 1:42:19. And this year, thanks to Claudia’s strength training and marathon training plan, I set an ELEVEN minute PR! 1:31:27! WOW!

I finished up Saturday by slowly jogging the 5K with a fellow Team Freedom friend that I met in the corral we chatted and made the time go by fast! No PR there (35:12), but I wasn’t even considering it would be possible with the crowds and my most recent 5K PR that I set just two weeks prior at BDR of 28:40. So I took it easy.

Sunday morning was an early morning! I headed down to Tampa at 4:30am. I was feeling sore from the day prior but knew I had to manage to get through the race. The pain and discomfort that I feel during the just over two hours that it takes to run a half marathon is nothing compared to the pain and heartache that these human trafficking victims endure on a daily basis. When you compare the two situations – I have NO excuses! As is fitting for a Gasparilla race, I forgot something! But not my shoes this time – my running watch. I had a moment of anxiety on the way down about forgetting my watch and even considered driving back, but knew that would put me too close on time. I decided I would run comfortable and walk the water stops. I started between the 2:15 and 2:20 pace groups and new that would be a good spot to stick between, if I got a wild hair and sped up, that would be ok too!

I finished Sunday with a new PR for the half marathon distance as well! Only by a minute, but a PR is a PR!

Numbers recap:

3 Races

25.5 Miles

24 Hours

15K PR – 1:31:28 (11 minutes faster than one year ago!!)

Half Marathon PR – 2:16:30 (1 minute faster)

$500 raised for Hope for Justice

$162,000 total raise to fight human trafficking by Team Freedom

Over 300 Team Freedom Runners ran from Tampa to Chicago and back in mileage!

Stay Updated!

Enter your email address to subscribe to receive notifications of new posts by email.

Email Address

Who’s the Mom?

Jessica is a wife, mother, runner, and blogger who resides in Tampa, Florida! She juggles a full-time job, her husband and two kids while trying to stay in the best shape she can! Read more...

What topic do you want to read about?

What topic do you want to read about?

Communities

Copyright

I love it when you share! Please keep in mind that all images and text on this site are property of Tampa Mom Runs. Feel free to use one or two photos provided that a link back to my original post is included. Please do not remove any watermarks, crop, or edit any of my images without first obtaining written permission from me. Pinning is always welcome and appreciated! Thank you!